Type arrangement for composing machines



y 5 1935- o. I. BLOOM ,ET AL 2,006,435

TYPE ARRANGEMENT FOR COMPOSING MACHINES Filed May 25, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 H5. 2. F/E 2.11

IN VENT OR Otto Z,oo;n/

I BY amaal [37 ATT ' 5-. o. l. BLOOM r AL I 2,006,435

Filed May 25, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 2 TYPE ARRANGEMENT FOR COMPOSING MACHINES 35 3G 37' 58 39 IO OI s| 525$ sq 55 e 57' so :9 so el 01 as F Z5; T 2

INVENTOR Otto I. ,BZoam J m/ad]. 6- Friedman,

A BYJ y 2,1935. 0. l. BLOOM El AL 2,006,435

. T PE AR ANGE I Filed May 25, 19:54 6 Sheets-Shee t -5 INVENTORS 7 05:0 I BZoom (Samuel I 6. f'rievlnzm y/"2, 1935- o. I. BLOOM ET AL 2,006,435

TYPE ARRANGEMENT -FOR COMPOSING MACHINES E E I l Filed May 25, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I T T iii; .9

Eli- 1 IINVENTOR.5 [Zloom JamueL I ,4! v

July 2, 1935. Q, BLOOM r AL Y 2,006,435

TYPE ARRANGEMENT FOR COMPOSING MACHINES Filed May 25-, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet m U gl I l l A I m raw IEF

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Yflfl EB HEW . INVENTORJ Oii'o I B loom ORNEY Patented July 2, 1935 OFFICE TYPE ARRANGEMENT FOR COIHPOSING I MACHINES om 1.31m and Samuel I. s.

New York, N. Y.

Friedman,-

Application May 25, 1934, SerialNo. 727,420

12 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as typographical composing machines of the general character shown and described in United States Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,532. The object of the invention is to adapt machines of this kind for the automatic setting of type-matrices to be cast inone slug for languages employing many symbols or characters in their written or printed expression.

A typographical composing machine of the class stated, comprises, among other parts, a keyboard and a matrix font representative of the type characters to appear in print. By the depression of the keys of the keyboard, the matrices, through the action of intermediate parts, are released in the proper order from their storage magazine and assembled in line for the casting therefrom of type bars or printing slugs. It is with these parts of a composing machine-the matrices, the keys, and matrix-combinationsthat the'present invention is more particularly concerned.

The number of keys which the keyboard of 'a typographical composing machine can comprise must be held within certain limits in order that the machine may be operated with the necessary facility, speed and accuracy. The keyboard of the regular commercial typographical composing 30 machine, known and widely used in this country, isprovided with but ninety difierent keys, and it has been found in practice that keys to that number will answer the ordinary requirements for printing in the many languages in which-com- 5 posing machines, are now used. For example,'a

- keyboard, whose keys are marked with the characters used in printing in the English language, will customarily have ninety keys, as set forth above; such as a key for each lower-case or small 40 letter of the alphabet; a key for each upper-case or capital letter; and a key for each of various other symbols used in printing. Y Thereare same languages which employ very many more symbols or characters than,ninety. The Hebrew language, for example, involves the use of at least several thousand essential characters of alphabet and vowels for its printed expression with the fullest detail and requires the use of unlimited thousands of combinations of symbols, if musical accents, as they occur in the Old Testament, are to be included.

Our invention solves the problem of the vowelized alphabet by the use of'only 63 special letter and vowel elements on an ordinary commercial,

55 typographical composing and casting machine.

The Hebrew language is composed of twentyseven consonants and twelve vowels. Words may be written without the use of vowels in-which case there is, however, a loss of accuracy. A word written without its vowels may be susceptible of two or more meanings, and this is wherethe difliculty lies. For example, the word composed of the consonants ZKR may mean memory or it may mean male. Only by the use of vowels, or the reading of the text, can the 10 differentiation in meaning be made.

The setting of Hebrew vowels is difiicult because of the fact that they do not follow the consonant as in the case of Latin alphabets. The Hebrew vowel may occupy one or more of 15 three positions in relation to its consonant; the vowel may be under the letter within the letter or above the letter, or in any two or all of these positions. As a result of these varying vowel positions, the combinations possible with 27 con- 20 sonants and 1-2 vowels, are almost limitless, and the number of combinations in actual use amount to thousands of characters. The mechanical difliculties inherent in the setting of the consonants with the vowels under these circumstances 25 are self-evident. When in addition, musical characters are required, the difiiculties of their setting necessarily becomes greater because of the limitless combinations possible and required.

The only method in use today for the setting 30 of Hebrew characters with properly positioned vowels, or with musical accents, is by hand. In this method the consonants are set first and the vowels or musical accents are manually set above or below the consonant. This method is slow, laborious, diflicult to handle, costly, and because of the 'very minute size of the vowel-units, involves a severe and damaging strain on the eyes. All known mechanical methods for casting Hebrew type with vowels have been proven im- 40 practical and useless for one 'or more of the reasons that they do not provide for essential combinations; they cannot be used on a regular line composing and casting machine; and/ or they require the casting of one line in three parts, the

consonant, the upper vowel and the lower vowel. Each is in a separate and distinct line and their subsequent junction with the associated elements adds to the difficulties of matching consonant to vowel. None of theknown methods of casting Hebrew type with vowels provides for the setting 10f musical accents.

Our invention overcomes all these and other difficulties associated with .the problem of setting Hebrew characters with vowel and musical signs.

mechanical setting of all the innumerable general and special combinations of characters and sym- -bols required in the ancient, as well as the constantly-progressing modern Hebrew language.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1

is a front view in diagrammatic form of a ninety channel line-composing machine; Figs. 2 to 2d show keys on a convertible key-board of the conventional typographic machine; Fig. 2 showing a plan view of a key bearing one special symbol; Fig. 2a showing the top of a key bearing two symbols, one in English and one in Hebrew; Fig. 2b isa plan view of a key provided with two musical symbols; Fig. 2c is a plan view of the ordinary letter in English; Fig. 211 is a perspective view of an assembledconvertible key; Fig. 2e is a transverse sectional view through the structure shown in Fig. 2d; Figs. 3 to'3d are views of an interchangeable matrix combination, Fig. 3 being a right side view of a matrix without a combination; Fig. 3a being a side view of a matrixwith the interchangeable combination in place; Fig. 3b is a face view of the interchangeable combination; Fig. 3c is a vertical sectional view of the matrix with the interchangeable combination in position; Fig. 3d is a face view of the matrix with its combination held in position by a spring; Fig. 4 shows a. series of 63 individual and unique. characters divided into eight groups (A to H inclusive) which in proper combination form Hebrew letters and vowel signs; Fig. 5 shows letters of the Hebrew alphabet constructed from a combination of the characters shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a face view of a line of matrices assembled for the casting operation and represents a group of Hebrew words composed of a number of the characters shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7' shows a series of 66 individual characters when set and assembled in conjunction with the characters shown in Fig. 4 produce the musical sign on the-vowelized Hebrew letter; Fig. 7a shows a face view of a line.

of matrices assembled for the casting operation and represents a group of Hebrew letters with musical signs in all positions and vowels in all positions.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a keyboard of the kind shown in Fig. 1, and shows a set of characters marked on the keys thereof, these characters including the 63 characters shown in Fig. 4- and the additional usual numerals and symbols of the standard line-composing machines; Fig. 9 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a keyboard of the kind shown in'Fig. 1 and shows a set of characters-marked on the keys thereof, these characters including the 63 characters shown in Fig. 4 and 60 of the. characters shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the keyboard shown in Fig. 1 and shows a'set of characters marked on the keys thereof, these characters including 60 of the characters shown in Fig. 4, the numerals and symbols of the standard line-composing machine and an English alphabet; Fig. 11 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the keyboard shown in Fig. 1 and shows a set' of characters marked thereon, these characters including 60 of the characters shown in Fig. 4, and an English alphabet, both so arranged that both Hebrew and English words can, if desired, be set on the same alignment.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings is illustrated a front view, in diagrammatic form, of the usual type of ninety-channel line composing machine. The

key-board is shown at a, the matrix distributor.

entrance at b, the ninety-channel magazine at c, and the assembling elevator at d. When the matrices are changed, the symbols'on the keys must be changed accordingly, and for this purpose, I provide the type of interchangeable key shown in detail in Figs. 2d and 2a.- It will be there seen that the key consists of a body portion 6 having its upper face recessed for the reception of a. symbol-bearing card A cover member g is hinged at h to the body portion of the key, as clearly indicated in Fig. .211, said cover member when in its lowered position overlying the top of the key and retaining the symbol-bearing card in position. The cover-member g is provided with a dependent flangez, having a rolled lower edge 7' which engages below the lower end of the body portion of the key, to hold down the cover member. The key is supported on the conventional key-bar kin the usual way.

Our invention consists in part of a series of 63 individual characters (Fig. 4) ordesign or letter elements which when placed together in selected combinations of two or three, will result in the composition or formation of a Hebrew letter with or without a required vowel. These characters or designs or drawings may be engraved, impressed, or punched on a line-composing machine-matrix or on an individual matrix and whencast in proper sequence (Figs. 5 and 6) will produce the corresponding Hebrew letter with or without a required vowel. These 63 characters are numbered I to 63 in Fig. 4'and are divided into eight groups. As an illustration of the ease and simplicity of setting complicated modern Hebrew, may be set on a ninety-channel lay-out line-casting, or single-type casting, machine.

Since our invention for the casting of Hebrew letters with vowel signs requires only 63 characters, there are left enough finger-keys and channels on the standard ninety-channel keyboard lay-out to provide for additional symbols--either numerals, special characters or complete alphabets, as the 'work' may require. How such com-' binations of keyboards may be used is shown in Figs. 10 and 11 which show examples of Latin alphabet combinations. Other combinations of Yiddish or other characters may be combined with the'63 characters used for the setting of Hebrew letters with vowels.

In order to facilitate the ease of changing the character indicators of thekeyboard to corre-' spond with the various layouts of combinations possible with our method of casting Hebrew letters with vowels, we provide a finger key shown in Figs. 2d and 2e, and previously described, said key being so constructed thatone indicator may be quickly and easily removed and another inserted.

In the operation of an automatic line-casting machine each matrix has a V-notch, provided with serrated edges, the teeth of which are arranged in a manner to fit certain channels of the machine. The arrangement of these teeth is known as the combination. This combination allows the matrix after being cast to travel back to its proper channel and to no other channel. In order to enable the operator to direct a matrix to whatever channel or channels that his work may require, as may be governed byhis layouts, we have provided a matrix of two parts, a body and a separate combination, the latter fitting as an insert in a groove provided for its reception in the body of the matrix and held'in place by a spring. This arrangement is shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 3d inclusive, where I shows a matrix provided with the conventional notch m, although said-notch has the serrated edges normally found, omitted. At its upper end the matrix is formed with a groove n into which the combination plate 0 fits. Said combination plate is provided with a recess 1) near its lower end, which engages with the upper bent end of a spring 1', having its lower end attached to,

one face of the matrix, as clearly shown in Figs. 3c and 3d. With this arrangement, the combination of any particular matrix can be changed by disengaging the combination plate 0 from the spring and removingit from the matrix. A new combination plate can be readily dropped in place in the matrix and the recess p will snap into engagement with the end of the spring r and hold it in place. Each matrix is provided in one of its faces with an. aperture 3 through which the end of the sp'ring'r can enter to engage with the recess p in the combination plate.

In order to set the Old Testament in Hebrew there are required, besides the vowel signs, an additional group of 22 musical signs. Inasmuch as these 22 signs may be used singly or in any grouping and inasmuch as they may be placed either on the top or bottom of, or may occupy both these positions in relation to any letter, it is evident that the combinations possible between Hebrew words and their musical accents are limitless in number. The present known method of setting musical accents is by hand and.

this method hasdisadvantages similar to those of setting the vowel signs by hand. In order to overcome these disadvantages and to enable an operator to set Hebrew musical accents at the same time he is setting Hebrew letters with vowels by our method, we have provided a set of 66 characters which will allow of this operation. Fig. 7 illustrates these characters arranged in six groups, according to their musical characteristics, each character of which has a distinctive name and musical sound. Fig. 7a illustrates a line of matrices assembled for the casting operation and representing a group of Hebrew letters with vowel signs and musical accents. Fig.

. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a layout for a keyboard or finger-key arrangement for the purpose of setting Hebrew letters with vowelsigns and musical accents.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that our invention primarily consists in the division of Hebrew letters with vowels in different positions, into a plurality of letter elements. These letter elements, and their accompanying vowel symbols, are so shaped that they may be interchangeably used in groups to form different letters. Through this arrangement, the number of keys required to reproduce the complete Hebrew language in all of its aspects is greatly reduced, and the num-'- her of keys is accordingly minimized to a workable amount.

While we have shown this invention as applied to the Hebrew language, it is wholly possible that it may be applied to numerous other languages and we, therefore, do not limit our invention strictly to its use in the reproduction of the Hebrew language, but consider it broad enoughto cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What we claim is:

1. A type arrangement for composing machines comprising a group of meaningless letter elements which when aligned on a line-composing or' single-type casting machine in group assembly of two or three, form the character of an undistorted condensed or extended Hebrew consonant without a vowel, with any required vowel, or with vowels above, in the center, or below the consonant letter or in any combination of these positions.

2. A type arrangement for composing machines comprising a plurality of matrices, each of which is formed with a portion of a letter only, so that several of the matrices must be placed together to form a complete undistorted letter, some of said elements being formed with variously positioned vowel symbols.

3. A type arrangement of Hebrew musical accents totaling sixty-six characters adapted for use on a line-composing or single-type casting machine, when used in combination with a group of letter elements produce one or more Hebrew musical accents in any required position.

4. A type arrangement for composing or casting machines comprising a. group of letter elements consisting of independently meaningless divisions of Hebrew letters with vowels in different positions, said letter elements being so shaped that they are adapted for selective interchangeable use in groups to form different complete undistorted letters with vowels.

5. A matrix font for slug casting machines 'the serrated portions thereof extend into the notch.

7. A matrix for casting machines having a body portion, and means for detachably securing a serrated combination plate thereon.'

8. A matrix for casting machines having a body portion formed with a slot, a notched and serrated combination plate adapted to removably seat in said notch, and spring means on the body portion for detachably engaging the combination plate to hold itin position in the body portion.

9. A finger key for a composing and casting machine comprising a support for a symbol or character, a cover plate hinged thereon and covering the character and means for detachably holdingthe cover plate in position.

10. A keyboard for composing machines consisting of sixty-six keys provided with independently meaningless indices which control the selection of corresponding characters adapted for adjacent placement in groups to form Hebrew consonants.

'11. A keyboard for composing machines consisting of ninety keys, some of which bear unique independently meaningless indices which control the selection of corresponding characters adapted for adjacent placement in groups to form Hebrew consonants, and others bear English letters for controlling the selection of corresponding English letters.

12. A keyboard for composing machines consisting of ninety keys, some of which bear unique independently meaningless indices which control the selection of corresponding characters adapted for adjacent placement in groups to form Hebrew consonants, and. others bear numeral and symbol indices.

DISCLAIMER 2,006,435. Otto I. Bloom and Samuel I. S. Friedman, New York, N. Y. TYPE AR- RANGEMENT FOR COMPOSING MACHINES; Patent dated July 2, 1935. Disclaimer filed August 15, 1936, by the assignee,.]1 Iergenthaler Linotype Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer of claim 2 in said specification. K [Ofiicial Gazette September 15, 1986'] 

